Shelf extender

ABSTRACT

A detachable, adjustable shelf extension comprising a generally flat, rigid member having opposite ends and an upwardly facing planar surface portion adjacent one of the ends. Secured to the rigid member are hanger means for suspending the member from a shelf in a position wherein the other end of the member engages the undersurface of the shelf. The hanger means includes a bracket which is vertically movable with respect to the rigid member and has a flange portion which overlies an edge portion of the shelf, and clamp means for locking the bracket in a position wherein the flange portion is in predetermined spaced-apart relationship to the rigid member.

United States Patent [191 Leadbetter 4] SHELF EXTENDER [76] Inventor: Orren R. Leadbetter, 6620 Ludwig Circle, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46805 22 Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 116,406

[52] US. Cl l08/97, 108/152, 211/86 [51] Int. Cl A47b 96/02 [58] Field of Search 108/97, 69, 101, 108/152; 248/214, 238, 226 B; 211/153, 86, 88, 90

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,152 7/1952 Krewson 108/152 2,444,584 7/1948 Touchett..... 211/88 X 3,356,430 12/1967 Schreyer. 108/97 X 2,291,870 8/1942 Blair 248/226 B 3,259,082 7/1966 Williams 108/97 X 2,914,191 11/1959 Bowden 211/153 1,715,715 6/1929 McVey 248/226 B June 26, 1973 2,558,323 6/1951 Strun 108/97 X 2,539,923 l/1951 Phaneuf... 211/86 X 3,007,580 11/1961 Dickson 211/86 X Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Att0rney-1-Iood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Coffey [5 7] ABSTRACT A detachable, adjustable shelf extension comprising a generally flat, rigid member having opposite ends and an upwardly facing planar surface portion adjacent one of the ends. Secured to the rigid member are hanger means for suspending the member from a shelf in a position wherein the other end of the member engages the 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUJUUZS I973 v v INVENTOR. ORREN R. LEADBETTER ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to removable shelf extensions and more particularly to such an extension which can be adjustably fitted to a conventional storage shelf for temporary use therewith.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the retail sales industry and in particular retail groceries, it is frequently necessary to replace and r'eprice shelved merchandise. Since the stock shelves are generally maintained at near-filled capacity for maximum utilization of space, a suitable work area for restocking or repricing articles is not readily available on the shelves. To overcome this problem, various forms of shelf extensions have been proposed such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,914,191, issued to H.F. Bowden et al. However, such prior art shelf extensions have incorporated fixed geometry whereby the shelf extension' can be used only in conjunction with shelves having dimensions for which the extension has been specifically adapted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION and engage an edge portion of the shelf. Clamp means are also provided for locking the bracket in a position with the flange in predetermined, spaced-apart relationshipto the member, whereby the hanger means can be adjusted to engage the edge portion of shelves having varied dimensions. 1

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved shelf extension which can be removably secured to a conventional shelf.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shelf extension that can be adjusted for use with shelves of varied dimensions.

Still another object of this invention is to providean improved shelf extension that is portable.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improvedshelf extension which is simple in construction and economical to produce.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelf extension of this invention shown affixed to a shelf;

FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing the elements of the clamping means; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket showing the friction-increasing pads affixed thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a I detachable shelf extension, indicated generally by the numeral 10, and comprising a generally rectangular rigid member 12 formed of corrugated material such as sheet steel and having opposite ends 14 and 16.

A planar panel 18 also formed of sheet material such as sheet steel is fixedly secured to the upwardly facing surface of member 12 as by welding at 20, panel 18 extending approximately six-tenths of the length of rigid member 12. The end 22 of panel 18 is bent or rolled to form a channel which wraps around and covers end 16 of member 12, forming a smooth end surface thereon. The opposite end of sheet 18 is bent vertically upwardly to form a flange 24, and a plurality of vertically extending slots 26 are formed therein. A sheet metal channel 28 snugly engages end 14 of member 12 to form a smooth cover thereon, and is fixedly secured thereto as by welding at 30.

An angle plate or bracket 32 having a horizontal flange 34 and vertical flange 36 is positioned with its vertical flange 36 in sliding engagement with flange 24 as shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of slots 38 are formed in vertical flange 34 in alignment with slots 26 in flange 24.

As seen in FIG. 2, a plurality of threaded fasteners 40 slidably extend through slots 38 and 26 and wing nuts 42 are threadedly received thereon. Preferably, the fasteners 40 are provided with conventional lock washers 44 adjacent the heads thereof. 7

Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of rubber-like strips or pads 46 having a coarse surface thereon are adhesively secured to the underside of flange 34of angle bracket 32 with a suitable contact adhesive.

A carrying handle 48 is secured to end 16 of member 12 as by welding or with suitable threaded fasteners (not shown) to provide a means for carrying and manipulating the shelf extension.

In use, the shelf extension 10 is positioned with end 14 of member 12 engaging the underside of a shelf, figuratively shown in dotted linesat 50 with flange 36 of angle bracket 32 in abutting engagement with the edge 52 thereof, and bracket 32 is adjusted if need be so that horizontal flange or lip 34 overlies and engages the upper surface of the shelf, as at 54. With the shelf extension 10 held in this position, wing nuts 42 may be tightened,'thereby securely clamping bracket 32 to the flange 24. The shelf extension 10 is thereby firmly suspended from the shelf 50. Further, because friction pads 46 are forcibly engaged with shelf 50 by both the weight of the shelf extension 10 and any merchandise positioned on panel 18, the shelf extension 10 will not accidentally become disengaged from the shelf 50. When it is desired to remove the shelf extension it is only necessary to pull outwardly on handle 48 in a direction away from the shelf 50. The shelf can then be conveniently carried by means of handle 48 for use at another location or to be stored. Alternately, if the shelf extension 10 should be tightly engaged with the shelf 50, wing nuts 42 can simply be loosened to facilitate easy removal of the shelf extension.

It is thus apparent that this invention provides a shelf extension which can be removably attached to a conventional shelf. Further, the hanger means, because they are adjustable, permit easy adjustment of the shelf extension for use with shelves of varied dimension.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus,

it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable shelf extension comprising a generally flat and rectangular, rigid member of corrugated metal having opposite ends, an upwardly facing planar panel of sheet material secured to and covering a portion of said member adjacent one of said ends, hanger means for suspending said member from a shelf in a position with said one end of said member and said planar panel extending outwardly from a shelf and the other of said ends of said member in engagement with the undersurface thereof, said hanger means including an angle plate movable between first and second positions vertically spaced apart with respect to said member and infinitely adjustable therebetween, said angle plate having vertical and horizontal flanges adapted to overlie and engage an edge portion of such a shelf, and an upstanding flange extending transversely across the upwardly facing surface of said rigid member, said vertical flange being in parallel sliding engagement with said upstanding flange, said horizontal flange being disposed in parallel spaced-apart relationship to said rigid member and extending horizontally away from said vertical flange in a direction away from said planar panel, clamp means for locking said angle plate in a position with said horizontal flange in selected spacedapart relationship to said member, said clamp means including a plurality of vertically extending slots in said upstanding flange and said vertical flange, the slots in said upstanding flange being respectively in alignment with said slots in said vertical flange, a threaded fastener extending through each aligned pair of said slots, whereby said fasteners may be tightened securely to clamp said angle plate to said upstanding flange, a plumember'for manipulating said shelf extension.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTION Patent No. 3,741,131 Dated June 26, 1973 lnventorh Orren R. Leadbetter It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

CLAIMS claim 1, Column 3, line 3, "metal" should be --rigid self supporting material Signed and sealed. this 27th day of November 1973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. RENE TEGTMEYER Attestlng Officer Acting Commisslone-'1 of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC eqa'Io-Psq I 0.5. GOVIIMIIIT "DWI" 077K 2 

1. A detachable shelf extension comprising a generally flat and rectangular, rigid member of corrugated metal having opposite ends, an upwardly facing planar panel of sheet material secured to and covering a portion of said member adjacent one of said ends, hanger means for suspending said member from a shelf in a position with said one end of said member and said planar panel extending outwardly from a shelf and the other of said ends of said member in engagement with the undersurface thereof, said hanger means including an angle plate movable between first and second positions vertically spaced apart with respect to said member and infinitely adjustable therebetween, said angle plate having vertical and horizontal flanges adapted to overlie and engage an edge portion of such a shelf, and an upstanding flange extending transversely across the upwardly facing surface of said rigid member, said vertical flange being in parallel sliding engagement with said upstanding flange, said horizontal flange being disposed in parallel spaced-apart relationship to said rigid member and extending horizontally away from said vertical flange in a direction away from said planar panel, clamp means for locking said angle plate in a position with said horizontal flange in selected spaced-apart relationship to said member, said clamp means including a plurality of vertically extending slots in said upstanding flange and said vertical flange, the slots in said upstanding flange being respectively in alignment with said slots in said vertical flange, a threaded fastener extending through each aligned pair of said slots, whereby said fasteners may be tightened securely to clamp said angle plate to said upstanding flange, a plurality of friction increasing pads secured to the downwardly facing surface of said horizontal flange, and handle means secured to said one end of said rigid member for manipulating said shelf extension. 